Cypher's Choice In "The Matrix"
...a false reality. In this, people are kept in shells as energy sources and plugged into a computer simulation of a world that they believe is real and concrete. The premise is that artificially intelligent machines surpassed the intellect of humans and have risen up against them. Cut off from the sun, their source of energy, they turn to humans as the ultimate renewable source of energy. The story centered on Neo and his quest to learn what, in fact, the Matrix actually was. Eventually a man by the name of Morpheus who was the leader of a group trying to destroy the Matrix invites Neo to take part in a journey to discover the truth. Neo took a pill and was released from the Matrix to discover what the world had become. While in the real world, Neo became part of a group fighting the reign of these machines and trying to free the human race. Cypher, a member of Morpheus's group, decided he would rather go back to an easier life in the Matrix than keep fighting for this cause. Although initially idealistic, Cypher eventually lost faith in Morpheus and his so-called “The One”. Cypher decided to cooperate with the Agents that act to protect the Matrix, and conspired with them to kill his former crew members. Cypher essentially believed that there was no use in fighting anymore because there was the possibility of never actually winning the battle. Cypher justified his decision, declaring, "Ignorance is bliss" (The Matrix). Although Cypher's statement does have some validity, he ignored all of his duties to himself, his peers, and most importantly, the human race. Cypher clearly made the wrong choice in deciding to abandon "the desert of the real" in favor of an easier lift in the Matrix. Ultimately, he was killed and never returned to the Matrix. His needs to fulfill his duties as a citizen and a revolutionary were not only shown throughout the movie, but also...
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